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Would you rate this a productive or lazy weekend?

57 replies

Cochi · 23/03/2025 22:08

Fri night - home from work at 6pm, drove youngest to a residential football camp for the weekend. Went to gym for an hour with teen daughter. Came home 8.30pm and ate pasta pesto with daughter who then went out, played on phone while listening to Audiobook for 2 hours. Bed.

Sat - up at 6am, ordered a Tesco delivery and let dog out, played with phone for 90 mins, met friends for hour dog walk, cooked omelet for teen daughter, gym for an hour with her, made photo album of all 2024 family pics for couple of hours and ordered it, ordered new work clothes, played on phone while listening to audio book for 2-3 hours, went out with friends for dinner, home at 11pm and played on phone for an hour.

Sun - up at 6am for Tesco delivery arrival, played on phone and listened to audio book for 90 mins after unpacking shopping, dog walk with friends for an hour, batch cooked three lasagnas, baked a cake for family tea, washed groomed dog for an hour as he was a total mess, did 2x loads of laundry, gym for an hour, picked up son from camp, heated up one of the lasagnas for everyone’s dinner, played on phone for two hours while listening to audio book and am still doing that now .

my guilt is about the hours on my phone meaning I’m less productive than I should be, but then I also feel I got things I needed done all done.plus I work full time so need down time. Would others feel this was a productive weekend or too much phone time?

OP posts:
mushroomshroom · 23/03/2025 22:38

I don't understand how you fit so much into your Sunday!

Cochi · 23/03/2025 22:40

Specter17 · 23/03/2025 22:35

This sounds like a very productive weekend, with a good mix of responsibilities, social activities, and personal downtime.
Why It’s Productive:

  • Family Responsibilities: You handled parenting duties, including driving your child to camp, cooking meals, doing laundry, and picking them up.
  • Social Time: You walked with friends twice and had a dinner out—important for well-being.
  • Health & Fitness: You went to the gym three times, which is more than most people manage.
  • Household Tasks: You ordered groceries, batch-cooked, cleaned and groomed the dog, and did laundry.
  • Organisational Tasks: You created a 2024 family photo album and ordered work clothes—both proactive tasks.

The Phone Time Concern:
The time spent on your phone while listening to audiobooks isn’t necessarily wasted. If it’s passive relaxation, it’s legitimate downtime, especially since you work full-time. The key is whether that phone time interfered with something else you wanted to do. If not, it’s just your way of unwinding.

Verdict:
This was a well-balanced weekend. You were productive while also taking time to recharge. The guilt about phone use might be more about perception than reality—if you’re still getting things done and feeling rested, then it’s not an issue.

Edited

Thanks for this thoughtful analysis. It made me feel better! I enjoyed the social and exercise parts of the weekend and got done the things I needed to do. I just hate that 4.5 - 5 hour average screen time a day is over 30 hours a week staring at a tiny screen and yet that is what I consistently choose to do.

OP posts:
Ivalueloyaltyaboveallelse · 23/03/2025 22:45

Productive, I’ve been very lazy! Hardly moved this weekend and enjoyed it. Avoided the gym all weekend, DC1 worked most of the weekend so wasn’t home, DC2 has SEN and had down time in their room most of the weekend as was feeling burnt out after a busy week at SEN school with all the new possible students. DH was busy doing his hobby most of the weekend and did all the cooking. All I did was some daily chores and a big food shop. Played some board games in the evening as a family but mainly read my book, drank lots of tea, tidied up the garden a little bit and binged TV. Very lazy, I loved it.

CalicoPusscat · 23/03/2025 22:46

Seems alright to me. We all need downtime. I use my phone far too much so perhaps I'm not qualified to say.

Thisshirtisonfire · 23/03/2025 22:48

Sometimes on a weekend I wait till midnight to play the next days word games on the NY Times website... I get genuinely excited about doing them 🤣 🤣

Honestly I do think people foam at the mouth about phone use but when you actually examine it it makes no sense.

What is actually so superior about reading a physical book to listening to an audio book? What is so superior about doing a crossword or sudoku in the physical newspaper as opposed to doing it online? What is so superior about watching a tv program on a tv rather than your phone? What's so superior about having a comversation with your friend on the phone as opposed to having it on WhatsApp??

Alot of the time when people talk about phones being bad it's partly emotionally based. It's not what they grew up with so it's inherently 'wrong'

Obviously there's a discussion to be had about the negative sides of social media etc

But just judging all phone use as inferior to the use of physical media to relax is batshit in my eyes.

BibiLynn · 23/03/2025 22:49

Specter17 · 23/03/2025 22:35

This sounds like a very productive weekend, with a good mix of responsibilities, social activities, and personal downtime.
Why It’s Productive:

  • Family Responsibilities: You handled parenting duties, including driving your child to camp, cooking meals, doing laundry, and picking them up.
  • Social Time: You walked with friends twice and had a dinner out—important for well-being.
  • Health & Fitness: You went to the gym three times, which is more than most people manage.
  • Household Tasks: You ordered groceries, batch-cooked, cleaned and groomed the dog, and did laundry.
  • Organisational Tasks: You created a 2024 family photo album and ordered work clothes—both proactive tasks.

The Phone Time Concern:
The time spent on your phone while listening to audiobooks isn’t necessarily wasted. If it’s passive relaxation, it’s legitimate downtime, especially since you work full-time. The key is whether that phone time interfered with something else you wanted to do. If not, it’s just your way of unwinding.

Verdict:
This was a well-balanced weekend. You were productive while also taking time to recharge. The guilt about phone use might be more about perception than reality—if you’re still getting things done and feeling rested, then it’s not an issue.

Edited

Did you run that through AI?

OliviaBonas · 23/03/2025 22:54

That’s 100% AI

Girliefriendlikespuppies · 23/03/2025 22:58

It sounds similar to my weekend, today I got up around 8am, on my phone for 90 mins ish, then did a couple of hours housework, took the dog for an hours walk.
Then had lunch, on my phone for another hour.
After that sorted out a load of stuff in the garden, cooked dinner, ate dinner and caught up with teen dd.

Another dog walk after dinner and more clearing up and then 2 hours watching telly/looking at my phone.

Specter17 · 23/03/2025 23:04

@BibiLynn

No, because for some reason, that's frowned upon on here, even if it helps the OP.

I can say the sky is pink, and it's okay, but if AI is used to help, then it seems like, "OMG, how dare they," etc.

So instead, I tried to structure it and make it an analysis to help the OP.

eyeoflifehe · 23/03/2025 23:07

My screen time was 14 hours today…

BibiLynn · 23/03/2025 23:13

Specter17 · 23/03/2025 23:04

@BibiLynn

No, because for some reason, that's frowned upon on here, even if it helps the OP.

I can say the sky is pink, and it's okay, but if AI is used to help, then it seems like, "OMG, how dare they," etc.

So instead, I tried to structure it and make it an analysis to help the OP.

I think it’s frowned upon as we want to hear from people. Otherwise it’ll become AI talking to AI.

Apologies if I was mistaken about your post, I use AI a lot in my line of work and am (usually) pretty adept at spotting it.

Specter17 · 23/03/2025 23:17

BibiLynn · 23/03/2025 23:13

I think it’s frowned upon as we want to hear from people. Otherwise it’ll become AI talking to AI.

Apologies if I was mistaken about your post, I use AI a lot in my line of work and am (usually) pretty adept at spotting it.

Which I can understand, but what puzzles me is when the OP's post is more analytical and fact-based that is the most puzzling part.

If it's about analysis rather than personal experience, why do people take issue when responses are meant to help, such as in topics like tax, law, or, in this case, actual analysis?

If the OP wanted personal experiences, then yes, AI wouldn't be suitable. But when it's about facts, analysis, or numbers, people still focus on the use of AI. Instead of reacting negatively, why not focus on providing a better answer to help the OP yet instead people still go OMG Ai?

CalicoPusscat · 23/03/2025 23:18

eyeoflifehe · 23/03/2025 23:07

My screen time was 14 hours today…

I think I'd like to watch a film actually!! Just need to decide which one

Specter17 · 23/03/2025 23:19

CalicoPusscat · 23/03/2025 23:18

I think I'd like to watch a film actually!! Just need to decide which one

A good forensic one with Val Kilmer and Jonny Lee Miller: Mindhunters film.

Crazybaby123 · 23/03/2025 23:27

Your weekend was almost identical to mine . I have a busy work week and need downtime on the weekends, get a few chores done and a little excercise. Trying to save too so avoiding expensive days out, have done everything local a million times anyway.

Themostlikely · 23/03/2025 23:34

Specter17 · 23/03/2025 22:35

This sounds like a very productive weekend, with a good mix of responsibilities, social activities, and personal downtime.
Why It’s Productive:

  • Family Responsibilities: You handled parenting duties, including driving your child to camp, cooking meals, doing laundry, and picking them up.
  • Social Time: You walked with friends twice and had a dinner out—important for well-being.
  • Health & Fitness: You went to the gym three times, which is more than most people manage.
  • Household Tasks: You ordered groceries, batch-cooked, cleaned and groomed the dog, and did laundry.
  • Organisational Tasks: You created a 2024 family photo album and ordered work clothes—both proactive tasks.

The Phone Time Concern:
The time spent on your phone while listening to audiobooks isn’t necessarily wasted. If it’s passive relaxation, it’s legitimate downtime, especially since you work full-time. The key is whether that phone time interfered with something else you wanted to do. If not, it’s just your way of unwinding.

Verdict:
This was a well-balanced weekend. You were productive while also taking time to recharge. The guilt about phone use might be more about perception than reality—if you’re still getting things done and feeling rested, then it’s not an issue.

Edited

AI or if not why would you want to sound like AI??

OP, very productive weekend although getting up at 6am both days made me feel exhausted just reading it!

WatchedEverything · 23/03/2025 23:35

Today I went for a run with my son and took the dogs for a walk with my daughter and niece. I have done nothing else productive. We’ve watched 3 films and a few episodes of The White Lotus.

No guilt and no fucks given. You are an adult, as long as your children are looked after properly, you don’t have to justify your time.

SillySallie · 23/03/2025 23:40

BibiLynn · 23/03/2025 22:49

Did you run that through AI?

I thought the same. That’s a chat gpt answer.

9-10 hours on a phone is madness imo OP.

SpringIsSpringing25 · 23/03/2025 23:46

Specter17 · 23/03/2025 23:04

@BibiLynn

No, because for some reason, that's frowned upon on here, even if it helps the OP.

I can say the sky is pink, and it's okay, but if AI is used to help, then it seems like, "OMG, how dare they," etc.

So instead, I tried to structure it and make it an analysis to help the OP.

It was a good and thoughtful post!

People only assume it's AI because they are unable and willing to write thoughtful posts

Goldenbear · 23/03/2025 23:57

I think it sounds productive but I'm more impressed that you get up at 6 am and go out for dinner in the evening until 11 without falling asleep at the table!

Ruffpuff · 24/03/2025 00:04

It seems like a well balanced weekend of socialising, exercising, chores and family stuff. Why does it matter whether you spent your downtime on your phone or not?

I’m guessing op and the people saying it’s too much phone time are maybe older and don’t view the phone as just another way to relax?

Cattenberg · 24/03/2025 00:05

Well, you certainly got more done than I did this weekend. I also spend a lot of time on my phone and have signed up for a couple of short leisure courses to try and shake me out of that rut. Although, one of these courses is in digital photography, so I will still be staring at a screen, oops.

ByTicklishLimeBalonz · 24/03/2025 00:18

Ah, guilt. That ever-present companion that quietly creeps in, judging, critiquing, as though it has the right to scrutinize your every move. It seems to be more of a societal disease than a personal failing, doesn’t it?

Cochi, I can’t help but notice how meticulously you structured your weekend, balancing the demands of family, friends, work, and self-care. You were out the door at 6 AM, making sure the household ran smoothly, ensuring your family’s well-being, maintaining your social circle, and even carving out time for your own health.

And yet, here you are, letting the one thing you’ve spent hours on a phone—become a source of internal conflict. Why? Because somewhere in the back of your mind, you’ve internalized the judgment others would place on you.

Let’s face it, society is quick to evaluate what constitutes "productivity." If you're not out there climbing a metaphorical mountain or churning out masterpieces, you’re just wasting time, right? But the reality is, everyone has an opinion, and far too often, it’s based on their own narrow views of what's "acceptable."

People love to judge others for their choices, especially when it comes to technology. There’s always someone quick to remind you that the hours you spend on your phone could be better spent in a “more meaningful” way.

But is scrolling through your feed while listening to an audiobook really less worthy than knitting or reading? The difference is hardly tangible. In fact, the phone has become a lifeline for so many of us whether it's keeping us connected, providing entertainment, or offering moments of peace in an otherwise chaotic world.

Yet, those same people who judge will rarely acknowledge that their down time often looks just as "wasted" in a different light watching TV, mindlessly flipping through magazines, or worse, projecting their ideas of productivity onto others.

It’s easy for others to stand in judgment, their opinions rooted in an idealized world where everything is done with the utmost discipline and purpose. But let’s not forget: what’s considered productive to one person might be a stifling, soul-draining task to another.

In your case, the phone serves as your reprieve, your chance to unwind and recalibrate after a demanding week. That’s not laziness it’s survival. What others think is irrelevant. The real question is: does it work for you? Is that phone time serving you in the way you need it to?

Because in the end, the only opinion that truly matters is your own. If that phone time gives you the peace and space to unwind, then it’s no one’s business but yours. As for the guilt, remember: everyone else is too busy judging their own lives to critique yours.

Chromaover · 24/03/2025 00:56

I would rate it as very boring. Do you have hobbies or interests? Things you like doing for yourself other than than gym?

I think you will look back and regret actively choosing to spend leisure time 'playing' on your phone - no one on their death bed is going to say they wished they'd spent more time scrolling. But then I enjoy lots of other things. If you don't have other interests maybe you won't. Who knows.

SnowFrogJelly · 24/03/2025 00:58

Wayyy too much time playing on phone

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